Sanklecha wrecks Assam as Maharasthra scent victory

Anupam Sanklecha took his second consecutive ten-wicket haul in a match – also bettering his career-best in consecutive games – to bring Maharashtra within four wickets of an innings-victory against Assam in Chennai.

Assam, who had put up 132 for 3 at stumps on the second day in response to Maharashtra’s 542, lost Kunal Saikia (39) in the second over of the day. Sanklecha claimed his wicket, before an 85-run stand between Rishav Das (86) and Arun Karthik (47) steadied them. However, Arun Karthik fell to the part-time offspin of Chirag Khurana (2-34) with the score on 219, and Sanklecha removed Rishav in the very next over, to initiate a collapse of 6 for 37 that saw Assam fold up for 256. Sanklecha ended with figures of 8 for 73.

Assam were asked to follow-on and found themselves 51 for 4 in the 18th over, having lost opener Rahul Hazarika in the third over to Sanklecha. Left-arm medium-pacer Mohsin Sayyed (2-21) was primarily responsible for this, removing Rishav Das (14) and Amit Verma off consecutive overs. Arun Karthik (33*) was involved in another half-century stand for the fifth wicket, but the wicket of his partner late in the day, Saikia (33), brought another one and Assam finished the day on 115 for 6, still 171 runs behind. Those last two wickets were taken by Sanklecha, who finished the day with 3 for 37.

Delhi restricted Rajasthan to 221 and reached 51 for 3 in their chase of 153 at stumps in Wayanad.

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